Separable drinking rim and opener for can containers



April 1959 J. DUNGEY 2,881,952

SEPARABLE DRINKING RIM AND OPENER FOR CAN CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 X i U INVENTOR.

JAMES DUNGEY April 1959 J. DUNGEY 2,881,952

SEPARABLE DRINKING RIM AND OPENER FOR CAN CONTAINERS Filed Sept. :5, 1957 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES DUNGEY United States Patent 9 SEPARABLE DRINKING RllVI AND OPENER FOR CAN CONTAINERS James Duugey, Bronx, N.Y., assignor to Handi-Mugs Inc., a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,577

Claims. (Cl. 222-86) This-invention relates to a separable rim or collar 'for a can, and particularly relates .to a rim or collar provided with can puncturing means and means for boldiug'the cam while drinking therefrom.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a separable rim for a can, the rim being provided with can holding means and a plurality of can puncturing blades.

A further object is to provide a separable rim for a can with means adapted to retain the can in the rim, said rim 'having a flared body adapted for serving as a drinkingcup. A further object is to provide aplastic rim with a flared body, an integrally formed handle, a plurality of can supporting elements, and a pair of can top puncturing blades.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects "and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel featuresiof the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of acan holder embodying the invention with a can supported therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the can holder.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig.2, a can being shown in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 4 is :a sectional view taken on lines 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. Sis a sectional view of a portion of the can holder taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a can puncturing blade.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the blade taken on lines 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of another form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a brace member used in the form of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. v1 there is shown a cylindrical can C. This can maycontain a liquid such as beer, fruit juice, soft drink or other fluid contents which it may be desired to .be drunk directly from the can. The can is removably secured in the can holder 10 embodying the invention. The holder, as best shown in Figs. 15, includes a collar in the form of a generally cylindrical body 11 having open opposite ends 12 and 14, the end 12 being the top end and the end 14 the bottom as viewed in Fig. 1. The top end 12 flares outwardly to a relatively thin, smoothly rounded circular edge. The bottom end of the collar has a thickened annular portion 16 which extends radially outward at one section to form the arm of handle 15. The handle constitutes a dependent portion 18 shaped with flutes 19 to serve as a convenient hand or finger grip.

The body of collar 11 is formed with a circular internal recess 20. In this recess is supported a resilient rubber gasket ring 23. A circular ridge '24 is formed .in

the body just below the top of the recess to support the ring. The interior of the body 11 is contoured to form a base or bridge plate portion 25 having two diametrically opposed holes or openings 22 therein opening into recess 20. The flared side of the body is formed with channels or grooves 21 terminating in openings 22 to guide the flow of liquid from can C.

A plurality of radial coplanar threaded bores 26 are spaced apart in the thickened portion 16 and open interiorly into the body 11 below bridge 25 and ledge 24. In each bore is threaded a cylindrical externally threaded cup 28 containing a coil spring 29 and a conical bearing pin or button 30 constituting a catch. The cup has a constricted forward end 31 so that the button cannot be thrust completely out of the cup. The generally pointed tip of the button projects normally out of the cup and can be pushed back into the cup against tension in spring 29. In the forward end 31 is formed a pair of diametrially aligned slots 32 so that the cup can be screwed into bore 26 by compressing the button 30 into the cup with a screwdriver inserted into the slots.

A plurality of metal blades 35 are secured in the body 11 and project inwardly and downwardly toward bottom edge 14. The blades, as best shown in Figs. 3-7, are generally triangular in cross section and have a lower fine cutting edge 36 terminating in a sharp point 37. The upper side 40 of the blade is generally triangular and curved from point 37 back to the triangular flange 38. This flange is set into the body '11 during the molding process when the plastic body is being fabricated. The upper side 40 is convex in shape. The'lateral sides 42 of the blade are generally triangular in shape and are curved in a concave fashion from flange 38 to tip 37.

The blades are so shaped that when the can holder 10 is pressed down on the top of can C the sharp points 37 puncture the can first, then the cutting edge 36 enters the top of the can while the sides 42 separate the sides of the lengthing cut. When the blades have entered the thin metal top of the can to a maximum extent two triangular cuts diametrically opposed to each other with apices spaced most closely to each other have been formed. These cuts permit the liquid to flow out'freely and permit air to enterthe can to replace the liquid.

In operation, during the puncturing of the can, the buttons 30 first are retracted into the cups as the rolled edge E of the can engages the buttons. As the rolled edge E passes beyond the buttons, the are spring pressed outwardly and securely engage the can in the can holder. At the same time the rolled edge presses up against ring 23 to form an efiective liquid seal between the can and shoulder 20. Thus, the user can hold the can by means of handle 15 while drinking the liquid from the flared portion of the body. The use ofspring-biased catches as described makes it possible to retain cans having irregularly shaped contours, dents, and the like, in the holder. Also, cans of different sizes can be accommodated.

To remove the can from the holder, the can is pulled downwardly past the spring-biased buttons which retract to let the rolled edge pass and then extend outwardly again.

If desired, the body 11 can be formed of metal with blades 35 riveted or welded to the body. The conical tipped buttons may be replaced by ball bearings or by spring catches of other shapes. Handle 15 can be formed as a separate member joined by riveting or welding to the body 11.

In the form "of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the body 11 has substantially the same inner and outer forms as the body shown in Figs. 1-5 except for the omission of ledge 24. A rib 11 may be provided to reinforce the body '11. Inserted in the lower cylindrical recess 20 is a cross brace member 43. This member has laterally extending arms 44, 45, 46 and 47. Each arm terminates in a depending wall portion 49 having an outer rolled free edge 50. The wall portions are juxtaposed against the side wall of recess 20. Screw holes 51 are provided in the arms for securing member 43 in the top of the recess by means of screws 52. On arms 44 and 46 are secured two rubber suction cups 53 by means of screws 54. These cups serve to hold the can holder on the can by means of suction exerted against the flat top of the can. In arms 45 and 47, semi-circular openings 55 are formed, and fitted in said openings are combined outlet tubes and cutting blades 56, each having a semicircular tubular body 57 with a cutaway portion 58 on one side forming a concave-convex curved cutting blade portion 59. The blade portion 59 has side cutting edges 60 terminating in a sharp point 61. The tops of the tubular bodies 57 are flush with the tops surfaces of the arms 45 and 47 and are fastened to said arms by welding or in any other suitable manner. The blade portions 59 extend downwardly and forwardly with their pointed ends 61 lowermost. Thus as the can is pressed into the space between the arms 44, 45, 46 and 47 of the brace, the blade portions 59 pierce the can top. Openings 22 in the bridge plate portion 25 of the can holder overlay and communicate with the openings in the tubular bodies 57 of the combined outlet tubes and cutting blades 56. Thus, the liquid flows directly from the can through one hole in the top thereof to channel 21. The other opening in the can formed by the other blade serves to admit air to replace the liquid withdrawn from the can and to press the liquid out of the can.

The contoured bridge plate 25 and the tapered flared end 12 of the body define a recess which performs the function of a cup or drinking glass. When a foaming liquid such as beer or a soft carbonated drink is dispensed by means of the can holder, the upper flared recess serves to collect and hold the rapidly expanding foam after the can is punctured by the blades.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A can holder, comprising a generally cylindrical collar having a contoured apertured base plate formed therein, said plate defining a pair of recesses in the collar, the wall of one of the recesses flaring outwardly at one end to define a narrow drinking edge, said wall having channels formed therein and leading to diametrically opposed apertures in said base plate, a cruciform can supporting brace member secured in the other of said recesses, said brace member being formed with diametrically opposed depending blades located beneath said apertures, a pair of diametrically opposed suction cups carried by said brace member and extending from said brace member for engaging the flat top of a can, and an integral handle extending laterally from the collar for supporting the can while liquid is being withdrawn therefrom.

2. A can holder, comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an interior passage therethrough flaring outwardly toward one end of the collar to define a narrow drinking edge, the other end of the collar having a thickened annular portion, a handle formed integrally with a section of said thickened portion, said handle including an arm extending radially from said section and a depending hand grip integrally formed with said arm, a plurality of spring catch means mounted in said thickened portion and extending into the passage, said means each including a bore in the body of the collar, a cup threaded.

the cup and a spring located in the cup and biasing the bearing member outwardly from the open constricted end of the cup, said collar having a contoured plate defining a recess in the passage between said spring catch means and said outwardly flared end of the passage, a resilient ring gasket seated against said shoulder, a circular ridge on interior of the collar spaced from the plate and retaining said gasket in the passage, and a plurality of metal blades anchored in said body and extending into said passage, each of said blades being curved and having a point located below the plane of said catch means near said other end thereof for puncturing the top of the can when the collar is pressed thereupon, said blades having a curved lower cutting edge and outwardly flared concave sides extending upwardly from said cutting edge to form triangular cuts in the top of the can as the collar is pressed further thereupon.

3. A can holder, comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an interior passage therethrough flaring outwardly toward one end of the collar to define a narrow drinking edge, a handle formed integrally with a section of said collar, a plurality of spring catch means mounted in said thickened portion and extending into the passage, said means each including a bore in the body of the collar, a cup threaded in said bore, a bearing member retractably disposed in the cup and a spring located in the cup and biasing the bearing member outwardly from the open constricted end of the cup, said i the collar is pressed thereupon, said blades forming triangular cuts in the top of the can as the collar is pressed further thereupon, said catch means engaging under a rolled edge of said top as the top of the can becomes removably secured in the collar, with the rim of said top forming a liquid-tight seal with said gasket.

4. A can holder, comprising a generally cylindrical collar having an interior passage therethrough flaring outwardly toward one end of the collar to define a narrow drinking edge, the other end of the collar having a thickened annular portion, a handle formed integrally with a section of said thickened portion, said handle including an arm extending radially from said section and a depending hand grip integrally formed with said arm,

- and a spring located in the cup and biasing the bearing member outwardly from the open constricted end of the cup, said collar having a contoured apertured plate formed between said spring catch means and said outwardly flared end of the passage, a resilient ring gasket seated against said plate, a circular ridge on the interior of the collar spaced from the plate retaining said gasket in the passage, and a plurality of metal blades anchored in said body and extending into said passage, each of said blades being curved and having a point located below the plane of said catch means near said other end thereof for puncturing the top of the can when the collar is pressed thereupon, said blades having a curved lower cutting edge and outwardly flared concave sides extending upwardly from said cutting edge to form triangular cuts in the top of the can as the collar is pressed further thereupon, said catch means,

engaging under a rolled edge of said top as the top of the can becomes removably secured in the collar, with the rim of said top forming a liquid-tight seal with said gasket.

5. A can holder comprising a generally cylindrical collar having a contoured apertured base plate formed therein, said plate defining a pair of recesses in the collar, the wall of one of the recesses flaring outwardly at one end to define a narrow drinking edge, said wall having channels formed therein and leading to diametrically opposed apertures in said base plate, a can supporting brace mem- 10 her secured in the other of said recesses, said brace member including crossed arms, a pair of suction cups depending from one pair of opposed crossed arms, the other pair of cross arms being formed with openings, a combined outlet tube and cutting blade mounted in each of said openings, and depending from the respec- 6 tive arm, said cups being adapted to engage a top of the can for removably holding the holder on the can, said blades being adapted to pierce the top of the can providing an outlet and an air vent, and a handle extending laterally from the collar for supporting the can while liquid is being withdrawn therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,075,721 Hommel Mar. 30, 1937 2,344,680 De Cosrno Mar. 21, 1944 2,535,783 Churchill et a1 Dec. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 472,102 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1937 

